Chapter 39

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Lift Not The Mysterious Veil (1)

Shen Wanying had been under the impression that secret hideouts were reserved for grade school students and the likes of Fang Yichang. Who would’ve guessed a person as unsmiling and serious as Huo Cheng would also have one?

“A secret hideout? Where?” Is he deceiving me?

“Well, it’s a secret hideout, the location is a secret,” he replied.

“——” Him and his gods-be-damned logic. “All right. But I’ll need to run it by my mother. If she approves, then I’ll go with you.”

“Mm.”

“Then I’ll message you tonight.”

“Okay.” He nodded before handing her the microphone. “You’re not going to sing more?”

“——” She took the microphone from him and selected a few more songs.

To keep from rousing her mother’s suspicions, she usually only stayed at the KTV for half an hour before returning home. Half an hour did not allow her a lot of time, to begin with, but after the confession to Huo Cheng, she only had time to sing three more songs.

“Not singing anymore?” he asked when she was done.

She shook her head. “If I go back too late, mom will be suspicious.”

Huo Cheng looked down, appearing to contemplate for a moment, then stood up. “Let’s go, then.”

“Uh—” Shen Wanying hesitated. “Let’s leave separately. No one will know it’s me if I’m alone, but if we’re seen together someone might recognise us.”

Her worries were baseless, but Huo Cheng still complied. “You go on ahead first then. I’ll follow you from a distance.”

“—Uh. Why don’t you sing a few songs? I booked this room for an hour.”

“It’s okay. You go on ahead.”

“All right….” Shen Wanying put the baseball cap back on, glanced at Huo Cheng one last time, then walked out of the room.

She returned to the sweets shop the way she came. The entire way she was wishing she could turn back to see if Huo Cheng was with her, but she resisted. Inside the bathroom in the shop, she removed the disguise, changing back into her school uniform.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she was the dignified and elegant Lady Shen once more.

As she was about to leave, she saw Huo Cheng standing at the counter of the sweets shop, a carefully packaged small dessert in his hand. When she approached him, he handed it over to her.

“This is for you.”

“Thank you.” Looking down, Shen Wanying saw that it was the frozen orange mousse displayed in a photograph in the store. “Oh, this one is really good. Do you want to try some?”

“It’s for you,” Huo Cheng repeated.

After finding an empty table, she set the dessert down and opened the box. “Let’s eat it here before we leave.”

Huo Cheng froze for a split second, then nodded, taking the seat opposite her.

Shen Wanying scooped a spoonful of cake into her mouth, the corners of her lips curving up in delight. “This really is good! They also have a matcha mille crepe, next time we can get that for you to try too.”

“Mm.” Huo Cheng ate a spoonful of cake himself. His mouth filled with a rich orange flavour. He didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but the flavour of this particular cake reminded him of the time he had carried Shen Wanying through the orchard. The oranges there had given off the same sweet scent.

The shop owner stood behind the counter, tidying things on the display and sending Shen Wanying’s aunt a message:

【Looks like your niece is dating.】

The response was swift…

【??? Who is she seeing?! What’s his background? Find me a record of his ancestors dating back at least 18 generations.】

【Shop owner:……】

After a few seconds, another arrived…

【And don’t leave out even a single generation.】

【Shop owner: ……】

When they had finished eating the cake, the pair left the shop together. It was as Shen Wanying said: the shop owner had helped her call someone to pick her up, the car drove over as they stepped out into the street. She held her school bag, looking at Huo Cheng. “How are you going back? Shall I send you back first?”

“No need, you go on ahead. I can call a cab for myself,” he said.

“Mm…. alright, then.” She boarded the taxi. Before closing the door, she looked up at him and said, “I’ll text you tonight.”

“Okay.” Huo Cheng shut the door for her and watched the car drive off.

She arrived home a little later than usual that day, but Jiang Yu didn’t suspect a thing. After all, meetings sometimes ran long. Shen Wanying changed into her home clothes, came down the stairs, and walked over to her mother.

“Mom, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Yes.” Jiang Yu looked at her. “What is it?”

“A friend has asked me to go study with them tomorrow. May I go?”

Jiang Yu considered, albeit a bit reluctant. “You have speaking classes tomorrow. Who’s asking, Zhao Yimeng?”

Shen Wanying had originally wanted to use Zhao Yimeng as an excuse, but she had a feeling Jiang Yu wouldn’t approve. In the end, she decided to be honest. “No, it’s Huo Cheng.”

“Huo Cheng?” Jiang Yu seemed surprised but was quick to agree. “Go ahead. Your speaking classes are in the late afternoon, make sure you meet him earlier.”

Shen Wanying was mildly surprised. She hadn’t expected her mother to be so agreeable. “I will.”

“Is there anything else?” Jiang Yu asked.

“No, nothing else.”

“Study hard with Huo Cheng tomorrow. If you need help with anything, don’t be afraid to ask him.”

“I will.”

After dinner, Shen Wanying took a shower, then sent Huo Cheng a message:

【My mother agreed. We can go out tomorrow in the morning.】

Huo Cheng only took a split second to reply:

【Great. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow, then.】

【Shen Wanying: Won’t that be too much trouble? You can send me the address, I’ll ask my chauffeur to drive me there.】

She thought for a moment after she hit send, then followed it with another:

【Is it because it won’t be secret anymore this way?】

Huo Cheng chuckled at his phone, then replied:

【Mmhm.】

【Shen Wanying: That’s good. I trust you won’t sell me out then ^_^】

【Huo Cheng: I couldn’t bear to.】

Shen Wanying blushed and set the phone down. Her pulse hadn’t even returned to normal before the phone on the table buzzed again. She stared at the phone for a moment, then picked it back up again.

【Huo Cheng: I’ll come by at eight-thirty in the morning, ok?】

【Shen Wanying: Okay.】

【Huo Cheng: See you tomorrow then.】

【Shen Wanying: See you tomorrow ^_^】

Their conversation had gotten her very excited. She did a set of math papers, but it did nothing to quell the feeling. As she lay in bed, she couldn’t stop thinking about how, when tomorrow came, she would be going out with Huo Cheng… Her heart beat wildly in her ribcage again.

She even started planning what outfit to wear. At this point, she stopped herself, slapping her cheeks with her palms. “Shen Wanying, don’t let your imagination go crazy,” she admonished herself.

This self-reprimand was of absolutely no help at all, but as the hour got later and later, she grew tired and eventually drifted off to dreamland.

♥♥♥

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